Scratching The Surface

The causes and consequences of inflammation of the blood vessels, a condition called vasculitis, remain poorly understood as Andrea Oakes discovers

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“IT started as a small patch on a hindleg and spread around the pastern,” says Megan Bills of the skin soreness and swelling that has grounded her showjumping gelding Solisto. “As that finally started to heal, scabs appeared on the other hindleg — which blew up like a balloon.”

Solisto has been diagnosed with pastern and cannon leukocytoclastic vasculitis, a problem that is proving difficult to treat.

“We’ve tried so many things, including two different courses of antibiotics and two courses of steroids,” explains Megan, who has owned the French-bred gelding, now 13, for eight years without previous issues of this kind.

“Solisto has had blood and allergy tests, which came back normal, and we’ve changed his bedding type and kept him out of mud and sunlight. He has missed the whole summer season and both hindlegs are still swollen.”

WHAT IS VASCULITIS?

ACCORDING to Horse & Hound vet Karen Coumbe MRCVS, the term vasculitis refers to inflammation of blood vessel walls.

“Vasculitis can affect a vessel of any size, type or location in a horse of any age, breed or sex,” she says. “It is a veterinary description of a disease process, not a proper diagnosis in itself.”

Karen says vasculitis cases can present considerable diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

“The damage causes the blood vessels to leak, which results in bleeding and loss of fluid into the body tissues, leading to inflammation and oedema [swelling],” she says.

“In addition, the organ or tissue that these faulty blood vessels were supplying or draining may suffer further damage and loss of function.